The Minister of Minerals and Energy Bogolo Joy Kenewendo has concluded a week of high-level engagements in New York aimed at reinforcing Botswana’s standing as the world’s leading source of responsibly mined natural diamonds and deepening ties across the global jewellery industry.
The United States is the single largest and most influential market for natural diamonds, making the visit strategically significant at a time when the industry is navigating shifting consumer preferences and growing competition from lab-grown stones. Kenewendo’s programme was designed to ensure Botswana’s narrative, built on provenance, responsibility and decades of diamond leadership remains front of mind among the retailers, diamantaires, investors and media platforms that shape global demand.
Engagements during the visit spanned major retailers and industry leaders participating in New York’s jewellery and retail industry week, with discussions centred on retail partnerships, provenance-led storytelling and deeper collaboration under Botswana’s House of Botswana platform. The Minister also attended the Jewellers of America’s 24th Annual GEM Awards, hosted by the Natural Diamond Council and participated in events connected to the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York, one of the most respected senior networks in the global jewellery and watch industry.
“These engagements remain important in ensuring that Botswana stays actively engaged in global conversations shaping the future of the diamond industry while strengthening partnerships that support long-term value creation,” said Kenewendo.
The visit also included discussions with Forbes Media around potential collaboration opportunities tied to Botswana’s upcoming 60 Years of Diamond Leadership celebrations, a milestone the country intends to use as a platform for amplifying its national story to a global audience.
With natural diamonds under sustained pressure from synthetic alternatives and evolving luxury spending patterns, Botswana’s active presence in New York signals that the country is not leaving its market positioning to chance.
